The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted infection with potentially fatal consequences. However the use of a treatment called HIV PEP can prevent infection with HIV following exposure. In the HIV PEP project, we evaluated the feasibility of a province-wide HIV PEP program of care at 24 Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres. The project resulted in ongoing funding for the provision of HIV PEP treatment, offering of HIV PEP treatment included as a standard of care at all 35 Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres in Ontario, as well as the creation of training modules and reference guides to increase knowledge of HIV PEP among health care providers and patients.
- Publications
- KT Tools
- Acknowledgements
Articles
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Du Mont, J., Van, L., Kosa, D., & Macdonald, S. (2018). Exploring receipt of HIV PEP counseling among women sexually assaulted by an intimate partner. Open Aids Journal, 12, 1-5. Read article
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Du Mont, J., Macdonald, S., Myhr, T.L., & Loutfy, M.R. (2011). Sustainability of an HIV PEP program for sexual assault survivors: “Lessons learned” from health care providers. Open Aids Journal, 5, 102-112. Read article
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Du Mont, J., Myhr, T.L., Husson, H., Macdonald, S., Rachlis, A., & Loutfy, M.R. (2008). HIV post-exposure prophylaxis use among Ontario female adolescent sexual assault victims: A prospective analysis. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 35(12), 973-978. Read article
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Loutfy, M.R., Macdonald, S., Myhr, T., Humphries, H., Du Mont, J., Balla, S., Antoniou, T., & Rachlis, A. (2008). Prospective cohort study of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis for sexual assault survivors. Antiviral Therapy, 13(1), 87-95. Read article
Curricula & Guidelines
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(2011). HIV PEP Training module. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto. [Target audiences: violence treatment centre staff]
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Wong, A., Loutfy, M., Tseng, A., Macdonald, S., Rachlis, A., Bainbridge, D., Keeler, J., Maxwell, C., Smaill, T., Toppozini, D., Dayneka, N., Samson, L., Aniol, K. (2011). Ontario Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Treatment Centres (SA/DVTCs) Medical Guidelines For HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PEP) For Sexual Assault Victims/Survivors. [Target audiences: violence treatment centre staff]
Knowledge Translation Tools
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(2011). What is my risk of being infected with HIV? [Pamphlet]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto. [Target audiences: clients presenting to violence treatment centres, survivors of sexual assault]
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(2011). Guide to taking HIV PEP. [Pamphlet]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto. [Target audiences: clients presenting to violence treatment centres]
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(2011). Have you been sexually assaulted? Are you worried about HIV? We can help. [Pamphlet]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto. [Target audiences: clients presenting to violence treatment centres, survivors of sexual assault]
Funders
This research was supported by a grant from the Ontario Women’s Health Council (OWHC), an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Revisions to the HIV PEP program materials have been funded by a Knowledge Transfer grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Participating Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres
- Belleville Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Response Program for Hastings & Prince Edward Counties;
- Brantford Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program;
- Brockville Assault Response & Care Centre;
- Burlington Nina's Place, The Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre of Halton;
- Chatham Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre;
- Cornwall Partner Abuse Sexual Assault Care Team, Cornwall Community Hospital;
- Guelph – Wellington County Sexual Assault Care and Treatment Centre;
- Hamilton Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre;
- Kenora Lake of the Woods District Hospital Sexual Assault/Partner Abuse Treatment Program;
- Kingston General Hospital Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program;
- London Regional Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Treatment Centre;
- Mississauga Chantel’s Place, Peel Region Sexual Assault Program Sexual Assault Care & Counselling Centre;
- North Bay General Hospital Sexual Assault Treatment Centre;
- Orangeville Dufferin County Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Program;
- Orillia Simcoe County/Muskoka Regional Sexual & Domestic Assault Program;
- Peterborough Regional Health Centre Sexual Assault /Domestic Violence Program;
- Richmond Hill Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Care Centre of York Region;
- St. Catharines Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Treatment Program – Niagara;
- Sarnia Bluewater Health Sexual Assault/Domestic Assault Treatment Centre;
- Sault Ste. Marie Sault Area Hospitals Sexual Assault Care Centre/Partner Assault Clinic;
- Sioux Lookout Assault Care and Treatment Program;
- Smiths Falls Lanark County Sexual Assault Program;
- Toronto Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre; and
- Windsor Sexual Assault Treatment/SAFEKIDS.
Research Team
- Co-Principal Investigator: Anita Rachlis, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Toronto;
- Co-Principal Investigator: Mona Loufty, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Toronto;
- Co-Investigator: Terri Myhr, Research Facilitation Office, The Centre for Research in Women’s Health;
- Co-Investigator: Sheila Macdonald, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres;
- Co-Investigator: Janice Du Mont, Violence and Health Research Program, The Centre for Research in Women’s Health;
- Database Manager: Terry Leeke, Research Facilitation Office, The Centre for Research in Women’s Health; and
- Project Coordinator: Heather Humphries, Research Facilitation Office, The Centre for Research in Women’s Health.
Collaborators
HIV PEP Study Project Advisory Committee
- Mary Carter, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Treatment Program, Sudbury;
- Sue Comay, BC Women’s Hospital Sexual Assault Service;
- Linda Mansfield-Smith, Sudbury;
- Margaret McGregor, BC Women’s Sexual Assault Service;
- Susan McNair, Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Centre, London;
- Rai Therrien, STD/HIV program, Northwestern Health Unit;
- Monica Vautour, Sexual Assault/Domestic Assault Treatment Program, Sarnia;
- Julie Phillips, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre;
- Lindy Samson, Infectious Diseases, CHEO;
- Fiona Smaill, Infectious Diseases, McMaster University;
- Philippe El-Helou, Infectious Diseases, McMaster University;
- Claire Touchie, General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ottawa;
- Alice Tseng, Toronto General Hospital;
- Erin Cooper, Ontario Women’s Health Council; and
- Lorraine Schiedel, Public Health Branch, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.